Page 11 of Forged in Peril

“Everything okay?” he ventured. “I really need to get back, if you’re cool here by yourself for a few.”

“Oh, goodness, sorry,” she said, snapping back to attention, as though she’d been on the verge of falling asleep right then and there.

The cafeteria had largely emptied out, with only a few stray employees remaining dotted at their various tables. He was cutting it close for his meeting, he knew, but he didn’t want to abandon a new employee in the lunchroom on their first day, even if that employee was Bristol. Perhaps especially not then.

“I’m totally fine,” Bristol said. “You have things to do, don’t worry about me. If Grace isn’t back in like five minutes, I’m leaving, anyway. Jaclyn doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who likes to be left waiting.”

“Good observation,” he said, getting up from his chair and gathering up both of their trays. “She’s good for FBS, I think. She’s tough in a courtroom, and when you’re getting mixed up with some of the most dangerous criminals in the city, that’s the kind of lawyer you want on your side.”

“Yep,” Bristol said, sitting back again as he shuffled their garbage into one corner of the uppermost tray.

“Right,” he said, not wanting to leave, but knowing he was about to overstay his welcome and end up late for his meeting in the process. “Have a good rest of the afternoon.”

“You too,” she said, no longer meeting his eyes as she gave him a tight smile.

That was his cue to bail.

He strode across the open space, his shoes squeaking on the gray tile.

As much as he hated to admit it to himself, even her small rejection stung a little. As he tipped the remnants of their lunch into the trash, he found himself lost in a time long past.

He remembered what it was like to be a lanky eighteen year old with dreams of a wife and a house full of kids, with an embarrassingly tiny diamond ring hidden in his pocket.

That rejection had hurt.

He hoped she’d found what she was looking for.

She was a good person, and she deserved happiness, even if things hadn’t turned out anything like he’d wanted them to.

He risked a final glance at her over his shoulder as he ducked into the hallway.

At least she hadn’t given up on chasing her dream.

It was more than he could say for himself.

CHAPTER

FIVE

BRISTOL

Bristol took a final glance up at the clock on the wall of her office as she stuffed a stack of files into her tote bag, hoping that by tomorrow, she’d be free of the cumbersome bandages.

It was almost eight, but despite her general exhaustion and overwhelm, she didn’t mind too much.

The afternoon had moved a lot more quickly than the morning had. When she’d returned from lunch, Jaclyn had spent another hour or two getting her up to speed, but after that, it had become clear that it was time to sink or swim.

Bristol smiled to herself as she slid a thick envelope in between her phone and the granola bars she’d helped herself to from the complimentary snack cupboard in the cafeteria.

Jaclyn was a typical lawyer, but she doubted she was going to prove as demanding as the masochists at Dorling & Porter.

Late nights were the norm there, especially for the lower level staff and junior associates. Here at Forge Brothers Security, though, she hoped that twelve hour days were more of an exception than the rule.

Jaclyn had assured her that mostly she was just behind, thanks to her former paralegal being on maternity leave, and that once the Pellman trial wrapped up later this week, they’d have a chance to catch their breaths.

In the meantime, she was thankful for the overtime pay, and the chance to impress her intimidating new boss.

Bristol locked her office and strode out into the main area of the legal department, passing the desk where their intern, Melanie, had sat until she’d left around seven.

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